Entrance Examination for International Students（admission in April in 2027）
Features of the Program
Thank you for your interest in the Entrance Examination for International Students. Below, you will find important information to help you apply to our doctoral program.
Hokkaido University offers scholarships to top-performing applicants in the Entrance Examination to support their successful graduation.
Guideline
Doctoral Program Application Guidelines 2027 PDF
Check list PDF
Required Documents and Certificates for Application
| Form | Documents | Format | |
| A |
Application form |
Word | |
| B | Evaluation report from the expected supervisor | Word | |
| C | Medical certificate | Word | |
| D | Short essay, Research plan, Career plan | Word | |
| E | Report on scientific and academic activities, Summary of Bachelor’s and/or Master’s thesis | Word | |
| F |
|
Word | |
| G | Two letters of recommendation to the President of Hokkaido University | ||
| H | All past official academic transcripts | ||
| I | Original certificate of degree conferral (Bachelor’s and/or Master’s) or graduation issued by the university | ||
| J | Photocopy of passport or certificate of citizenship or proof of residence in the applicant’s home country | ||
| K | Three photographs taken within the last six months | ||
| L | Documents for the applicant qualification screening | Word | |
List of supervisors
Please refer to the “Doctoral Program Application Guidelines 2027” for further details.
English proficiency
In principle, all applicants of all examination categories are required to submit a score from an external English test, together with the other application forms for Entrance Examination. A minimum TOEFL iBT score of 55 (equivalent to Band 3 on TOEFL’s new score scale) or an equivalent score from other English tests (within 2 years before the date of the Entrance Examination) is required for application. Therefore, all potential applicants for the Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine and the Graduate School of Infectious Diseases are advised to plan on obtaining a score of external English tests well in advance.
Note that obtaining English proficiency equivalent to TOEFL iBT score of 75 (corresponding to Band 4 on the new scale) is advised for a smooth start and successful PhD training since all lectures in the Graduate School are given in English.
Please refer to the “Doctoral Program Application Guidelines 2027” for further details.
※Submission of the score of External English Proficiency Test in Graduate School Entrance Selection
Admission calendar
| Application Document Submission Period | Jun 8 – Aug 28, 2026 |
| Eligibility Screening | Sep 17, 2026 |
| First Screening: Document Review | Sep 18 – Oct 2, 2026 |
| First Screening Results & Notification to Applicants | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Second Screening: Connection Test for Online Interview | Oct 13–16 (one day), 2026 |
| Second Screening: Interview | Oct 19–23 (one day), 2026 |
| Second Screening Result Decision | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Notification of Screening Results | By Nov 6, 2026 |
|
Official Application Period for the Graduate School Examination Fee Payment Period for Self-Financed Applicants (including those who were not selected for a scholarship but wish to apply as self-financed students) |
Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027 |
| Admission Screening | Jan 6 – Jan 18, 2027 |
| Final Admission Decision | Jan 19, 2027 |
| Time of Enrollment | Apr 1, 2027 |
Selection and scholarship
| Selection | The International Priority Graduate Programs (PGP) | Special Selection Quota for International Students |
Selection Quota for International Students |
||
| Scholarship | Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship | The World Leading Innovative and Smart Education (WISE) Program Scholarship | None | ||
| Student capacity | Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine | 16 | 6 | A select few applicants will be accepted | Not limited |
| Graduate School of Infectious Diseases | 12 | ||||
| Age eligibility | Age eligibility: In principle, not more than 35 years of age on April 2027, i.e., those who were born after April 2, 1992. | Less than 40 years of age at the time of enrollment. | Please refer to the Doctoral Program Application Guidelines 2027 for the details. | ||
| Support for scholarship students | Examination fee | Exempted | 30,000 yen | ||
| Enrollment fee | 282,000 yen (scheduled amount) | ||||
| Tuition fee | 267,900 yen/semester (535,800 yen/year) (scheduled amount)* | ||||
| Transportation support | Supported* | None | |||
| Stipend amount | 145,000 yen/month (Nov-Mar: 148,000 yen)* | 150,000 yen/month* | None | ||
| * Please refer to the Doctoral Program Application Guidelines 2027 for the details and ask your expected supervisor for the details. | |||||
Please refer to the “Doctoral Program Application Guidelines 2027” for further details.
Hokkaido University EXEX Doctoral Fellowship
Hokkaido University has been successfully selected for 2024 SPRING: Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation and we launch the Hokkaido University EXEX Doctoral Fellowship starting from April 2024 as the succeeding project of the Hokkaido University DX Doctoral Fellowship.
Hokkaido University EXEX Doctoral Fellowship Portal Site:
https://sites.google.com/eis.hokudai.ac.jp/exexphd-fellow/
Depending on future social conditions , the examination may be conducted in a manner that differs from those described in this application guideline. Please check this site for the latest entrance examination information.